Manama: President Barack Obama has nominated Matthew H. Tueller as the new US ambassador in Kuwait.
Tueller, a career diplomat and a former Deputy Chief of Mission in Kuwait, currently serves as Deputy Chief of Mission in Cairo.
He will replace Deborah Jones, the only woman US ambassador to serve in Kuwait, and will be the 17th US diplomat to head a mission to Kuwait since the Gulf country gained its independence in 1961. Deborah arrived in Kuwait City on April 19, 2008.
The US, however, has still to name a successor to Joseph Adam Ereli, the former US ambassador in Manama, who left Bahrain on January 12 to take up a new position in Washington.
The US has had diplomats posted in Bahrain since 1971 after the country gained its independence. The diplomatic mission was established on September 21, five weeks after Bahrain's independence.
Tueller joined the US Foreign Service in 1985 and overseas assignments have included Political Minister Counselor in Baghdad, Political Counselor in Riyadh, Chief of the US Office in Aden, Deputy Chief of Mission in Doha, Political Officer in London and Political Officer and Consular Officer in Amman.
Washington assignments have included Deputy Director in the Office of Northern Gulf Affairs and Egypt Desk Officer. Tueller holds a BA from Brigham Young University and an MPP from Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government.
